With her knees on the dirt and a ball in her hand, Azalea Donche crouched down in a corner like a caged tiger.

Donche's eyes darted at each opponent, who stood over her from a distance waiting to pelt her with a barrage of rubber balls.

Next, sounds of "ooh" and "ahh" rose from the crowd as Donche managed to escape the assault.

"In that moment, I don't think," said Donche, a 27-year-old Costa Mesa resident. "If I think, I'll mess up. I have to catch the ball, dodge it or deflect it with the ball I'm holding. In the heat of the moment, you just have to go for it."

Donche on Saturday was among the more than 100 players who competed in the Ultimate Cage Dodgeball Championships at the OC Fair.

About 750 people attended the second championship held at the Action Sports Arena.

A player on team "Harlem Globeballers" warms up prior to the start of the dodgeball championship on Saturday evening. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Team, "Batman and the Sober Friends" join 14 others teams of adult dodgeball players at the OC Fair for a championship game on Saturday night. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Shannon Murphy, of team, "Pop That" jumps to the side to avoid being pelted by a ball during the dodgeball championships at the OC Fair on Saturday night. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brian McCallister, 35, from team "Balls to the Face" throws a dodgeball in an attempt to peg members of the opposing team to get them out. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Eric Radke, 31, of Los Angeles, prepares to launch a ball at the opposition during an early elimination game at the dodgeball championship held at the OC Fair. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Team "Pop That" beat out three other teams to win the women's dodgeball championship at the OC Fair. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Vince Marchbanks, 28, of Inglewood, Matthew Werner, 19, of Anaheim, Tanner Oymaian, 19, of Anaheim, Eric Radke, 31, of Los Angeles, Handsome Costanza, 39, of Los Angeles and Zwan Preston, 21, of Los Angeles compete on team "Magnum P.I." at the dodgeball championship on Saturday night. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Hundreds of fair-goers fill the stands at the Action Sports Arena at the OC Fair to watch teams of costumed adults compete at the dodgeball championship on Saturday evening. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A player on team "Magnum P.I." throws a ball towards members of team "Average Joses" during the dodgeball championship at the OC Fair. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Players on team "Magnum P.I." line up to throw dodgeballs in unison at the opposing team during the early rounds of elimination. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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